A Change of Husband - Chapter 57

“Wh-What is that…?”

Monica, who had still been standing because the questioning wasn’t over yet, muttered with a pale face.

She couldn’t believe what was happening.

Of all things, a handkerchief and underwear! Both were especially sensitive items for a woman.

Underwear went without saying, and in Astel, handkerchiefs were used by noblewomen to express sincere feelings.

That’s why Asilie had taken out her handkerchief so naturally when she asked for an apology at the palace banquet.

When people confirmed the crest of the Bellucci family embroidered on the handkerchief, they started whispering.

Most of those present at the banquet had seen that handkerchief. Just seeing the Bellucci crest was enough to recognize it as the same one from that day.

So Monica had even less she could do.

If there were someone here who could prove the handkerchief was different from the one seen that day, she might be cleared—but that was nearly impossible.

True nobles never risk their honor for a lie.

“This can’t be happening!”

At this rate, not only would she be punished for perjury, but she would also be branded as a promiscuous woman.

And unfortunately, the testimony given was incredibly damaging.

Someone had seen her leaving the lounge with another man at the same time her current husband, Joseph, was arguing with Asilie at the banquet. It implied she’d lived a wild life before marriage.

“It’s a setup!”

In the end, Monica had only one choice left.

“He’s framing me!”

“What do you mean by that, Lady Bonaparte?”
Baron Bresto raised an eyebrow as he asked.

His knowing look made her heart pound with pressure, but Monica couldn’t back down now.

Everything was on the line for her in this moment.

“As for the handkerchief, I took it out in front of many people. Anyone observant enough could have copied it. And the underwear—it’s not mine!”

“…Unfortunately, Lady Bonaparte, the identities of witnesses are kept completely secret before the trial begins. You must know the Noble Ethics Council guarantees that,” said Baron Bresto.

“T-That’s…!”

“Your claim sounds like you’re saying we knew you would be called as a witness and planted false evidence in advance… but that’s impossible. If you doubt that, then you’re denying the legitimacy of this trial, which is under the Noble Ethics Council.”

Baron Bresto’s calm tone silenced Monica.

He was right. If she went further, it would imply denying the noble houses that formed the council.

That could be even more dangerous than losing the trial, being punished for perjury, and being branded immoral.

“I… I’m innocent though!”

“These items alone cannot prove that Lady Bonaparte was the woman seen leaving the lounge,” Baron Oleso chimed in.

He seemed furious about how unexpectedly the trial had turned and was red in the face.

“What do you mean?”

“Maybe Lady Bonaparte lost her handkerchief that day. And how can we trust a new witness who just suddenly appeared?”

“Are you aware that you are insulting the royal family?” Baron Bresto asked.

At that, Baron Oleso slammed his hand on the table and stood up.

“What are you saying?!”

“This new witness is a palace servant. That means the royal family guarantees their identity. Accusing them of perjury without any counter-evidence is nothing short of insulting the royal family.”

There was no room to argue.

Baron Oleso glared at Baron Bresto in anger, but the latter simply turned slightly, showing he didn’t care.

“Besides, to prove Lady Bonaparte wasn’t the woman from the lounge, we just need someone who saw her at the banquet at that time.”

Finally, Baron Bresto spread his arms and pointed to the gallery.

“Most of the people who attended the banquet that day are here at the trial. I’m sure two or three of you saw Lady Bonaparte at the banquet around that time. Please testify with ‘honor.’”

There was no way forward or back.

Monica just wanted to faint. If she collapsed now, at least this ordeal might be over by the time she woke up.

She couldn’t believe this moment was really happening to her.

Blinking blankly, Monica instinctively turned her head to look at Joseph.

And then she was hit with an even greater shock.

In a way, it was largely Joseph’s fault that she was in this situation.

If it hadn’t been for him, she wouldn’t have had to commit perjury!

Yet now Joseph was looking at her with eyes full of disgust.

She didn’t even have to wonder why.

Joseph believed Davis Kedillon’s claim that Monica had come out of the lounge with another man.

Monica felt so wronged.

If only she hadn’t lied. No, if only she had married Geoffrey instead of Joseph…!

She should never have let pride get in the way. She should have considered everything rationally and followed her father, Count Bellucci’s advice, and married Geoffrey.

If she had, Joseph would have naturally fallen from the line of succession after losing this trial, and she would’ve become the mistress of the Bonaparte household.

That bitter regret made her all the more resentful.

“Hmm… is there no one here who saw Lady Bonaparte at the banquet at that time?”

Monica had no energy left to make excuses to Baron Bresto’s question. She couldn’t even if she tried. Not one person came forward.

Despite all the connections she had built in high society, everyone turned away from her desperate gaze.

After the witnesses from the Esperad side gave their consistent testimonies about what they saw, the audience was asked to raise their hands.

“Those who believe Joseph Bonaparte is innocent, please raise your hands.”

Only four people did.

The Count and Countess of Bonaparte, Geoffrey, and Count Bellucci.

No one else raised a hand—not even nobles who shared political ties.

It was only natural.

Nobles care deeply about their honor, at least in appearance, and wouldn’t risk their reputation for something already decided.

With everyone in the gallery turning their backs, the judge began the verdict.

“First, for Monica Bellucci Bonaparte, who committed perjury…”

Monica tightly shut her eyes.

She could already guess what would be said, and didn’t want to hear it.

If only she were deaf—maybe this would be a little easier to bear!

“A fine of 5,000 gold coins is sentenced.”

It was a relatively light punishment—at least in name.

But 5,000 gold was by no means a small amount.

In the capital, it cost about 1,000 gold to run both a noble family’s estate and city residence for a month.

Even if perjury damaged one’s honor, the punishment was harsh.

At least, that’s what the Count of Bonaparte thought, especially since he now had to pay the fine because Monica was part of his family.

“This is too excessive.”

Monica, who had just been relieved it was only a fine, was startled when the Count of Bonaparte suddenly stood up and raised his voice.

No way…

The anxiety gripped her chest.

But Count Bonaparte ended up creating the situation Monica feared the most.

“My daughter-in-law is currently pregnant. She’s an expectant mother who needs protection. I’m afraid the stress might harm the child!”

The courtroom fell silent for a moment.

Monica had been married for less than two months, and at that stage, it was hard to confirm a pregnancy.

There were already rumors about whether Monica had gotten pregnant before the wedding since she and Joseph had married without an engagement.

Now, with the court confirming that she was pregnant before marriage and branding her as a promiscuous woman, she would no longer be able to show her face in public.

‘Ah…’

Monica bowed her head deeply.

She could hear the judge and Count Bonaparte speaking, but she couldn’t understand any of it.

The feeling of losing everything she had built was unbearable.

She could clearly picture the cold treatment she would receive in the Bonaparte household from now on.

She would never again enjoy the life she once had.

While Monica struggled to hold back her tears, the three judges and Count Bonaparte seemed to have finished their discussion.

Count Bonaparte let out several uncomfortable coughs, clearly displeased, but the judge didn’t care and proceeded with the ruling.

“Joseph Bonaparte, who harassed a noblewoman, damaged a noble family’s honor, and incited a witness to perjury, is sentenced to a fine of 15,000 gold and banned from entering the capital for three years.”

“That’s outrageously unfair…!”

Count Bonaparte, shocked by the heavy fine—greater than Monica’s—and the humiliating three-year ban from the capital, stood up again to protest, but the judges cut him off immediately.

“We will not accept any objections regarding the ruling. That is all.”

The judges, having made their decision, stood up without hesitation and left the courtroom.

The nobles who had attended as observers also began to file out, chatting about the day’s trial.

Esperad turned toward Asilie to leave with her.

‘Hm?’

He didn’t expect her to be smiling, but he also hadn’t anticipated such a blank expression.

Asilie stared silently in the direction of the Bonaparte family’s seats, and she didn’t look happy at all. In fact, to him, she seemed rather sad.

“…Asilie?”

“Oh, yes. Let’s go.”

When he called her name, Asilie finally came to her senses and stood up.

He wanted to ask what was wrong, but Esperad held back for the moment.

He asked only after their carriage had left for the Medici mansion.

“Asilie, you don’t look very happy.”

“Me? Do I?”

“A little.”

“I see. I guess I didn’t look very cheerful…”

Only then did Asilie reflect on herself in response to Esperad’s words.

They had won the trial, which should have made her happy—and she truly was.

But seeing Monica so thoroughly broken wasn’t as satisfying as she had imagined.

She had already suspected Monica was pregnant before marriage—her own marriage to Geoffrey had been similar.

Also, from the testimony, it didn’t seem like the child was Joseph’s.

If nothing had changed from before her return, it was most likely Geoffrey’s child.

But still…

‘Why did only she have to be ruined like that?’

Asilie had been sitting directly across from Joseph, so she clearly saw the hateful look in his eyes as he glared at Monica.

Monica had committed perjury, yes—but she had done it for her husband.

If she hadn’t, the scandal with the handkerchief and undergarments being exposed in front of everyone wouldn’t have happened.

Yet Joseph’s gaze was cold.

Count and Countess Bonaparte also looked at Monica with icy expressions, different from before her return.

As if Monica were the reason they had lost the trial.

‘I was like that too.’

Whenever something went wrong, Asilie always had to take the blame.

She had been insulted and scorned constantly.

Now, it was happening again—only the person had changed.

“Why do you look like that?”

“Esperad, I…”

Asilie hesitated, unsure how to explain, then slowly began to speak.

“I was originally supposed to be connected to the Bonaparte family, right? Even though Geoffrey was the one being considered, I could have ended up marrying Joseph instead.”

“…Yes, that’s true.”

The idea made Esperad uncomfortable, but he nodded, trying not to show it.

“If that had happened, I might have been in the Bonaparte lady’s place. So when I saw her like that…”

“You didn’t feel good.”

“No. Joseph deserved his punishment, but if it weren’t for him, the Bonaparte lady wouldn’t have had to lie, or have her past revealed in front of everyone, or have her premarital pregnancy exposed. She received a punishment far greater than the crime she committed.”

At least in this situation, that was true.

Esperad finally understood what she was trying to say and nodded.

“I understand what you mean.”

“Of course, I do feel bad for her, but I’m still glad Joseph got punished. If you were worried I might not be happy about that…”

“I don’t misunderstand.”

Esperad gently smiled and took her hand to reassure her.

Asilie felt an odd sense of comfort from the warmth of his touch.

“And Asilie, this punishment is only the beginning for him.”

“What do you mean?”

She looked up at him in confusion, not immediately understanding.

“It’s simple. Starting today, he’s going to start losing many things. Being banned from the capital for three years means he can’t engage in politics. And the younger brother who’s been eyeing his position won’t miss that opportunity.”

“Ah, then Prince Geoffrey…”

“Yes. And I will support him.”

The man who dared to harm you won’t be allowed to walk around with his head held high.

He swallowed the words he couldn’t bring himself to say.

Esperad gripped her hand a little tighter, hiding his hatred for Joseph.

Her warmth gave him strength—and also pushed him to act.

With a determination even he hadn’t expected—ruthless and relentless.

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